Rangel says hes no Angel for helping homeless

22 January 2013 07:46

Swansea full-back Angel Rangel insisted Tuesday neither he nor his wife deserved all the praise that had come their way for helping to feed the homeless in the south Wales city.

The Rangels spent Friday handing out food to homeless people in freezing temperatures in Swansea.

This happened after they went for something to eat at a local sandwich shop where, overhearing the manager saying he would have to throw away food because they were about to close, Nikki Rangel asked if they could have the unwanted sandwiches for the homeless instead.

Angel Rangel then took to Twitter where he asked his followers for advice on where to distribute the food.

In an era where footballers are routinely criticised for being vastly overpaid and self-obsessed, the Rangels' kindess has won them many admirers.

But the 30-year-old defender said Tuesday the attention was all too much.

"I am a bit embarrassed, I have mixed emotions," he explained. "We did not want any press, me and my wife. We just did it for the fact we thought at the time it was a good idea, we did not want anything from it.

"We know it has made a big impact, we are grateful that people have appreciated what we have done, but we are embarrassed because we don't deserve it," he added.

"The people who work 24/7 in those shelters deserve more praise than us.

"I don't feel I had a responsibility, but there are so many poor people in the world, not just in Swansea, and it is good to help.

"But hopefully in the future more people, not just in football, will help those people who do not have a roof over their heads."